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About Me

Life is an adventure to be lived, not read about! I am an addicted arctophile (lover of bears!), quilter, stitcher & craft designer. I have been married to my best friend Scott (AKA My Beloved Geek Boy!) for 25 years ... & still like him! We live in our 'Dream House' on an acre in a semi-rural area that provides inspiration for my craft pattern designing; with an ever-growing population of bears, cloth dolls, quilts & stitchery projects. Grab a cuppa, get comfy & enjoy your visit! :0)

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Tuesday, 26 February 2013

WOW!! Life sure does get hectic, doesn't it?! I feel like a bit like a guinea pig in one of those wheels ... running, running, but getting nowhere! :0) I've been madly sewing the last stitches in my projects for this coming weekend's "Girls Stitch In" hosted by Marion and Steph of the Quilters Angel ... just four sleeps! :0) My samples are all finished ... yes ... samples PLURAL!! I just HAD to take up Nikki Tervo's challenge to use ALL of the fabric I was given to play with to design a brand new project for the weekend's ladies. :0) And I think I've done pretty well ... from 1 3/4 metres of fabric (seven quarter metre lengths of different fabrics ... all GORGEOUS!!) I've produced a set of projects and this is all that's left of my fabric pile ...

I'm sure Nikki would be able to do something with these little bits, but I think I'll just keep them for future scrappy projects ... SMALL scrappy projects! Tee! Hee! Hee!

And the best part is, I'll be able to show Nikki my small scrap pile in person, because she is an 11th hour replacement as the second designer for GSI after a disappointing cancellation. The disappointment is CERTAINLY outweighed by the chance to party and stitch with Nikki, though! :0) Hmmm ... two mad stitchers let loose amidst a group of stitching enthusiasts, threads and gorgeous fabrics ... Look out world! Tee! Hee! Hee! And I've had a peek at one of Nikki's designs and can I just say that the gals attending this weekend will be SPOILT FOR CHOICE! :0) I think between us, Nikki and I will keep these ladies busy stitching for the next month or two! :0) I know ... what a terrible tease I am for those of you who can't come and play in person with us. I'll make it up to you with another sneaky peeky of one of my smaller projects ...

... some chain stitch and a LOT of French knots to create a flower ... I had one of those "WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!" moments half way through the time-consuming task of stitching them, but I'm REALLY happy with the finished product ... which I promise to show pics of next week ... AFTER the weekend. :0)

For now, I'm off to play Polly and put the kettle on for a cup of tea, then put the finishing touches on instructions ... not my favourite task!! Hmm ... maybe a splash of something 'extra' in my tea to help fortify me will help! Or maybe that will just make the instructions a bit muddled and hard to follow! Tee! Hee! Hee! Hope you're all having a great week so far ... OPAMers ... don't forget to email Sweet Peg or me with your January and February finishes and update your sidebar lists. Happy stitching! :0) Til next time ...

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Here we are, it's Tuesday again ... the weeks sure to whiz by quickly, don't they. Did you have a good weekend? Let me tell you part of what I got up to. It involves good friends, yummy food cups of tea and coffee and the gorgeousness that is TILDA!

I think most of us are aware of ... and have probably drooled over!! ... the pretty Scandinavian flavoured fabrics, books and giftware from the design studio of Tone Finnanger. The Tilda name is expanding and Australian gals can now add some Tilda prettiness to their stashes by visiting their local quilt shops ... including Quilters Angel ... YAY!!

To celebrate adding Tilda goodies to their already extensive range of pretties, the lovely Marion and Steph organised a Tilda Tea Party to launch the new additions. There was a table full of yumminess ...

... kits, more pretties ... OOOHH!! Are you drooling as much as I did?? :0)

Oops! Look who decided to be a 'Tourist' and jump in my photo! Hi Sue!! :0) Now all we needed to add to make a real party of it was ...

... about 50 lovely ladies! Oops! Look who I've sprung on the right there pinching the caramel tarts ... the inimitable Nikki Turvo joined the fun and told us why she loves Tilda. All in all, it was a fantastic morning ... though my footsies were pretty sore by the end of it! It's SUCH hard work standing around sipping tea and chatting to people whilst looking at pretty fabrics! Tee! Hee! Hee! Thanks for a fantastic morning of fun, Marion and Steph!! :0)

OK ... I'm now off to have a cup of tea and think about writing pattern instructions for my Girls Stitch In project ... only thinking about it mind you! Tee! Hee! Hee! You can't rush into these things!! :0) Enjoy the rest of your week ... may it be filled with everyday miracles ... a cuppa you didn't have to make for yourself, green lights on your way to work, a call/email from a friend you haven't heard from in a while, a pretty flower in your garden, a hug from someone you love! :0) Til next time ...

Thursday, 14 February 2013

I know it's a whole lot of hype and yet another way for the shops to trick us into buying over-priced things ... but ... it's FUN, right! :0) We don't always go over the top to celebrate, but we'll often have a special home-cooked dinner or a fave take away and maybe treat each other to a favourite sweetie-treaty ... just some way to enjoy some 'together' time that can sometimes be a bit scarce in a busy work week. This year, though, my Beloved Geek Boy knew he was going to be tied up with work commitments on February 14, so the sneaky little bunny organised a special dinner earlier this week.

He booked a table at our fave restaurant ... Fitzy's on Church ... and when we were seated the lovely waitress delivered some surprises that GB at set up the day before ...

... GORGEOUS flowers, YUMMY Hillier's chocolates and a chilled bottle of bubbly ... AAAAAAAWWWWW!!! What a SWEETIE!!! (please excuse the slightly grainy pics ... they were taken on my phone cos I forgot my camera ... DOH!!) And then there was the food ...

I had Limoncello Chicken with feta, mushroom and chorizo flan ... YUMMM!!! And there was white chocolate and pistachio parfait with mango sorbet ... DOUBLE YUMMMMMM!!! :0) But you'll notice there's no photo of the dessert ... cos I ATE it too quick! Tee! Hee! Hee! And the best part??? Because we weren't celebrating on the actual Valentine's Day ... there were no noisy crowds ... PERFECT!!! Lots of husband brownie points earned by my darling GB ... I think I'll keep him! :0) Love you, Sweetie!!! MWAH!!

Whether you celebrated Valentine's Day or had a 'same old, same old' Thursday ... I hope there was a bright spot to make you smile! :0) Secret Squirrel stitching and pattern instruction writing happening here and that will keep me busy for most of the weekend. I hope your weekend includes some stitching time too. :0) Til next time ...

Sunday, 10 February 2013

Another week has gone whizzing by ... I sure wish I could work out a way to slow down time. Hmmm ... perhaps just the SEWING time, not the HOUSEWORK time! That already seems to crawl by! Tee! Hee! Hee! I've been madly working away in my sewing cave to finish my Girls Stitch In project ... and I DID IT!!!

Now ... I can't show you the finished project, cos it's got to stay a surprise for the gals who are coming to play at Marion's place on March 2 and 3, but I CAN show you a few little sneaky peekies to whet your appetite ... and maybe convince you to ring and book a seat to come and play with us! Tee! Hee! Hee!

Let's see ... I've been busy as a bee ...

... fluttering around madly ...

... trying to finish my project ... and now that I have ... I'm ...

... FRILLED with the result! :0) And now I think I deserve ...

... a cup of tea! :0)

Have I convinced you that you need to come and play with us? :0) Leanne Beasley is coming to play ... we chatted this week about how she'll feel right at home, cos the weather here on top of our 'hill' is very similar to HER 'hilly' weather near Melbourne. We both agreed that it's a case of ... if you don't like the weather, just wait half an hour and it's likely to change! Tee! Hee! Hee! Leanne's putting the finishing touches on her project too and Marion and Steph have got all sorts of fun things organised ... OOOOOOOOHHH!!! I can't wait!! Of course ... between now and then I DO have to write the instructions that go with my project ... GROAN!!! Ah well ... it needs to be done ... but I definitely think I need to fortify myself with that cuppa first. :0)

Hope you've all had a great weekend, too, and that your coming week is FANTASTIC! May there be many stitches in your week and time to stop and smell the roses! :0) Til next time ...

Saturday, 2 February 2013

Well ... since we've rolled over into February, that means ... sign up for OPAM 2013 is now CLOSED!! Thank you and welcome to all who've joined Sweet Peg and me to play along this year. It's lovely to see so many "Repeat Offenders" signing up again ... that means they've enjoyed being part of OPAM previously and want to play along again! :0) And wonderful to have some "Newbies" joining us too ... you're in for a lot of fun! :0) (Bonjour to the lovely ladies joining us from France this year!!) Thanks to those eager beavers who've already emailed their January finishes through to Sweet Peg or me ... but there's no rush THIS month. You see, Sweet Peg and I are still sorting out lists and links etc, so to give ourselves a bit of breathing room, we'll be doing a double random prize draw at the end of February ... a combined January/February draw, so stay tuned for that. It means you've got until the end of February to get your list of finishes on your sidebar and up to date. So all that's left to do now is ... GET STITCHING!!! Tee! Hee! Hee!

I don't like to have too many posts without photos, but since I'm currently working on my Secret Squirrel project for Girls Stitch In and can't show you photos of that, I thought I'd share my current favourite dessert on the run. It's simple (you definitely don't have to be a Master Chef!!), quick to make, not too naughty and YUMMY!! :0)

Step one ...

... set out six ramekins. The ones I've used are about 3/4 of a cup, but a little larger would work OK too.

Step two ...

... divide a can of fruit evenly between the ramekins For this version, I used fruit salad, but I've also used peach slices and that worked well too ... I've got a can of dark cherries to try this week ... YUM! :0)

Step three ...

... make up a sachet of lite jelly (jello, maybe for some overseas??) this one was a berry flavour of some sort and I used peach and vanilla for the peach slice version. You can just pick your favourite, though.

... divide the jelly mix evenly into the ramekins and pop the into the fridge to set.

Step four ...

... into another ramekin, spoon some of your favourite vanilla yoghurt ... I added about a tablespoon per ramekin. Add a good shake of cinnamon and stir it through well. Then add a good dollop of cinnamon vanilla yoghurt into each ramekin and serve ... ENJOY!!

Told you it was super simple ... even junior chefs could handle this dessert. :0) All of the ingredients are lite, low fat and sugar-free, so, good for the waistline and by preparing them in the ramekins you aren't as tempted to have too large a serving or go back for seconds. Well ... that's the theory anyways! Tee! Hee! Hee! You can use all sorts of variations for the fruit and the jelly flavour. Let me know if you try my quick dessert idea and tell me what you think. :0)

I'm off to start organising my OPAM lists ... Sweet Peg and I will be adding a full list of all participants to our sidebars very soon so you can start visiting each other to give encouragement. :0) Right now, I'm off to play Polly. Have a great weekend - Til next time ...